kidlat
kidlát with stress marks
lightning
Usage Note
Kidlat is often paired with kulog (thunder) and can be used as a verb, kumidlat, to describe lightning occurring. It is also frequently used in metaphors to describe extreme speed, such as the expression 'mabilis pa sa kidlat' (faster than lightning).
Examples
" May kidlat sa labas. "
Natural Translation
There is lightning outside.
Literal Translation
Has lightning at outside.
" Nakita ko ang maliwanag na kidlat sa langit. "
Natural Translation
I saw the bright lightning in the sky.
Literal Translation
Saw I the bright lightning in sky.
" Mabilis pa sa kidlat ang pagtakbo niya nang marinig niyang nasaktan ang kaniyang anak. "
Natural Translation
He/She ran faster than lightning the moment he/she heard that his/her child got hurt.
Literal Translation
Fast more than lightning the running his/her when heard he/she that got-hurt the his/her child.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workDerived Words
Actor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.

Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.

Philippine Christmas Traditions: World's Longest Holiday
Philippine Christmas traditions run four months — from Ber-month carols to Simbang Gabi dawn masses, Noche Buena feasts, and parol lanterns lighting every street.

Tagalog Verb Focus System Explained (It's Not Active vs. Passive)
The Tagalog verb focus system isn't active vs. passive. Learn actor focus, object focus, and more with clear examples that finally make it click.